Horrified: Greek Monsters (2023) Board Game

Horrified: Greek Monsters is a standalone expansion to the popular board game Horrified, which was released in in 2023. The game is designed by Victor Maristane and published by Ravensburger, known for their high-quality board games.

Game Components of Horrified: Greek Monsters

1 gameboard

6 monster mats

6 monster figures (Minotaur, Cerberus, Chimera, Medusa, Basilisk, and Siren)

7 hero tiles

7 hero standees

10 legend standees

19 bases

60 item tokens

4 lair tokens

26 monster tokens

1 terror marker

1 frenzy marker

30 monster cards

20 perk cards

5 reference cards

1 item bag

3 dice

Rulebook.

How To Setup Horrified: Greek Monsters

Setting up Horrified: Greek Monsters involves several steps. First, place the gameboard in the center of the playing area. Then, shuffle and distribute the hero tiles and standees among the players. Randomly mix the four lair tokens face down in locations around the board. Each player chooses a hero and places their standee on the starting location. Next, select the monsters to be used in the game and place their mats and figures on the board according to the rules. Finally, shuffle the monster cards and place them within reach of all players. The game is ready to start once all components are correctly positioned and each player understands their role and the monsters they will face.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Gameplay: Players work together to defeat monsters.

Turn Structure: Each player takes four actions per turn, such as moving, collecting items, giving items to other players, rescuing villagers, or defeating monsters.

Monster Defeat: Each monster requires a two-step process to defeat: gathering specific items and then using those items to defeat the monster.

Lair Mechanics: Some monsters have lairs that must be discovered by spending actions to reveal them. Finding the correct lair is crucial for defeating certain monsters.

Unique Monster Abilities: Each monster has unique abilities and challenges, such as Cerberus requiring dice rolls to open the underworld door.

Player Experience

Playing Horrified: Greek Monsters feels immersive and engaging, especially with its vibrant and detailed components. The game encourages teamwork, as players must coordinate their actions to effectively defeat the monsters. The addition of lairs and unique monster abilities adds a new layer of strategy and excitement. However, the game can feel a bit luck-dependent, especially with dice rolls involved in some monster challenges. Despite this, the colorful and thematic design makes each location and character feel meaningful and rooted in Greek mythology.

Pros

Immersive Gameplay: The game features sculpted miniatures and vividly detailed gameboard locations inspired by Greek legends.

New Lair Mechanics: The introduction of lairs adds a fresh layer of strategy and exploration.

Unique Monster Abilities: Each monster presents a different challenge, keeping the game exciting and varied.

Replayable: Players can choose different combinations of monsters for each game, ensuring a new experience each time.

Cons

Luck Factor: The game can be heavily influenced by luck, particularly with dice rolls and revealing lairs.

Some Abilities Feel Underutilized: Certain hero abilities might feel less useful, especially in solo play.

Minor Puzzles: Some puzzles, like the Minotaur maze, may not hold up to multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Horrified: Greek Monsters

Horrified: Greek Monsters is an excellent addition to the Horrified series, particularly for fans of Greek mythology and cooperative gameplay. It is suitable for players aged 10 and above and is a great choice for family game nights or solo gaming sessions. The game’s balance between teamwork, strategy, and luck makes it appealing to a wide range of players. However, it may not offer enough new mechanics for seasoned players looking for significant innovations in the series.

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